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Because of the city's prominent role in the American Revolution, several historic sites relating to that period are preserved as part of the Boston National Historical Park. Many are found along the Freedom Trail, which is marked by a red line or bricks embedded in the ground.
The city is also home to several prominent art museums, including the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston and the Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum. In December 2006 the Institute of Contemporary Art moved from its Back Bay location to a new contemporary building designed by Diller Scofidio + Renfro located in the Seaport District.
The University of Massachusetts campus at Columbia Point houses the John F. Kennedy Library. The Boston Athenaeum (one of the oldest independent libraries in the United States),[1]
Boston Children's Museum, Bull & Finch Pub (whose building is known from the television show Cheers), Museum of Science, and the New England Aquarium are within the city.
Museums
- Boston Children's Museum, 300 Congress Street, Daily 10AM-5PM (F until 9PM), 617-426-7336 [2]. Adults $10, Ages 2-15 $7, Age 1 $2.
- Boston Museum of Fine Arts, 465 Huntington Ave (Museum of Fine Arts station, Green Line, E Train), 617 267-9300, [3]. (Free for ages 7-17 after 3PM weekdays, all weekend, and public school holidays; entrance fees are optional on Wednesdays from 4-9:45PM). Boston's mini-version of the Met, and also one of the pricier museums in the US. Currently undergoing an expansion project, it houses the 2nd-largest collection of artwork in the Western Hemisphere. It is also known for its impressive assortment of French Impressionist paintings, with the largest collection of Monet paintings outside of Paris; and it has the biggest collection of Japanese art outside of Japan itself.
- The Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, 1 Oxford St, Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge, 617-495-2779, [4]. T stop: Red Line to Harvard Square. M-F, 11AM-4PM. Free and open to the public. Closed on University Holidays. Has over 20,000 objects dating from 1400 to present day.
- Harvard Art Museums, 32 Quincy St., Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge (Harvard Square Station, Red Line), 617-495-9400. M-Sa 10AM-5PM; Su 1PM-5PM, except school holidays.
- Harvard Museum of Natural History, 26 Oxford Street, Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge, 617-495-3045 [5]. T stop: Red Line to Harvard Square. 9AM-5PM daily. Its amazing Glass Flowers collection has been a major tourist attraction for nearly 100 years.
- Institute of Contemporary Art, 100 Northern Ave. (Courthouse Station, Silver Line), 617 478-3100 [6]. The much-anticipated new building designed by starchitects Diller+Scofidio, the ICA is located on Fan Pier on the South Boston Waterfront.
- Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum, 280 The Fenway (MFA Station, Green E Line), 617-566-1401 [7]. The villa-turned-museum of an eccentric Bostonian figure. The Gardner features an eclectic collection of European objects, beautiful floral displays, and was the site of a spectacular painting heist in 1990.
- MIT Museum, 265 Massachusetts Avenue, Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge. (Red Line to either Central Square Station or Kendall Square/MIT), 617-253-5927 [8] Daily 9AM–8PM until June 30, 2007. The MIT Museum is a place that explores invention, ideas, and innovation. Home to renowned collections in science and technology, holography, architecture and design, nautical engineering and history, the Museum features changing and ongoing exhibitions, unique hands-on activities, and engaging public programs.
- Museum of Science, Science Park (Science Park Station, Lechmere-bound Green Line trains). 617-723-2500 [9]. Daily 9AM-5PM (Summer until 7PM). Admission $13-$16 plus a la carte menu of attractions.
- New England Aquarium, Central Wharf(Blue Line to Aquarium), 617-973-5200 [10]. M-F 9AM-5PM, Sa-Su 9AM-6PM. Home of what was until recently the world's largest fish tank, according to the Guiness Book of World Records. Great fun for kids of all ages. Whale watching tours available, too. Adults $18.95, Students $16, Ages 3-11 $10.95.
- Mapparium, 175 Huntington Avenue (Green Line to the Prudential, Symphony, or Hynes/ICA stop), 888-222-3711 [11]. The Mary Baker Eddy Library at the world headquarters of the Christian Science Church houses a three story globe room where visitors can view a stained-glass map of the world from inside the center. Tu-Su 10AM-4PM. The $6 admission covers most of the museum and library.
- Peabody Museum of Archeology and Ethnology, 11 Divinity Avenue, Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge (Red Line to Harvard Square), 617-496-1027 [12]. Daily 9AM-5PM. One of the oldest museums in the world devoted to anthropology and houses one of the most comprehensive records of human cultural history in the Western Hemisphere.
- Semitic Museum, 6 Divinity Ave.Cambridge (Massachusetts)|Cambridge (T stop: Red Line to Harvard Square), 617-495-4631 [13]. M-F 10AM-4PM, Su 1PM-4PM. See a collection of over 40,000 artifacts from the Near East across multiple ancient civilizations.
- USS Constitution Museum, Charlestown Navy Yard, 617-426-1812 [14]. Apr-Oct Tu-Su 10AM-6PM. Nov-Mar Th-Su 10AM-3:50PM. Tour famous Old Ironsides, enjoy all-ages hands-on exhibits on sailing skills and crafts. Freewill donation.
- Warren Anatomical Museum, 10 Shattuck St. (T stop: Brigham Circle on Green E line), 617-432-6196, [15] See an extensive collection of distinct and pathological examples in anatomy including the actual skull of Phineas Gage. M-F 9AM-5PM, except Harvard University holidays.
Galleries
- Panopticon Gallery, Inside the Hotel Commonwealth 502c Commonwealth Avenue (T stop: Green Line to Kenmore Square), 617-267-8929 [16]. M-F 10AM-6PM, Sat 11 AM-5PM. Founded in 1971, Panopticon Gallery is one of the oldest galleries in the United States dedicated solely to photography. The gallery specializes in 20th Century American Photography and emerging contemporary photography.
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